Hat-binding.



No. 730,851. P-ATENTED JUNE 9, 1903.

- c. E. CLARK.

HAT BINDING. A PPLIOATION FILED JAN. 24, 19.02.

NO MODEL.

W WWII! Wm llllllllllllllflh (1/ UNITED STATES Patented June 9, 1903.

CHESTER E. CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAT-BINDING.

SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 730,851, dated June 9,1903.

Application filed January 24, 1902. Serial No. 91,017.

(No model To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER E. CLARK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new'and useful Improvements in I-Iat -Bindings; and Ido hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exactdescriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in bindings for stifi hats; and itconsists in producing a binding tape, band, or ribbon of any suitablematerial in which one edge is shorter than the other and the short edgeis made elastic, said tape adapted to be bound to the edge of a stiffhat-brim in a manner that will save stitching, cause the binding to liefiat against the brim, prevent puckering of the binding, and whenfinished present a neat finish.

Bindings in general use for hats consist of straight-edge ribbons ofcommon form with a selvage along each edge. These are applied tohat-brims by first sewing one edge of the ribbon along the upper side ofthe brim, turning the ribbon over, and stitching the other edge alongthe under side of the brim. The first stitching is done by machinery andthe second by hand. In some cases the binding is pasted to the brim atthe front and rear portions of the latter, owing to the difliculty insewing at such points and to cheapen the work. As the seam along theupper side of the brim is rarely ever the same length as that along thelower side of the brim, owing to the peculiar contours given the latterin the difierent styles of hat, in applying the binding, which is of thesame length along both of its edges, it is necessary to stretch one edgeand full or pucker the other in order to produce a neat job, and eventhen careful workmanship is required. These are some of the difiicultieswhich I have overcome in my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application, Ihave shown a preferred application of my invention in order thattogether with the following specification the invention may be fullyunderstood.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a hat to which myimproved binding ing what is commonly known as edge of the ribbon to isattached after my improved method. Fig.

2 is a bottom plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a View of a section ofhat-binding ribbon of common form. Fig. 4. is a similar view of ahat-binding ribbon made in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 5 is across section through a hat-brim on the line m a: of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A represents a stiff hat ofWell-known form, having a curled stiff brim B, also of Well-knowncontour.

C represents a plain, straight-edge ribbon suitable for hat-bindingbefore it has been treated or operated upon in accordance with myinvention, and D represents the same ribbon after it has been sotreated.

d represents a line of stitching along one edge of the ribbon, the styleof stitching bethe chainstitch, which, as is well known, is more or lesselastic in its action and has the property of being continuous or open,so that it may be stretched at certain points and the threads will bedrawn from other parts of the seam or line of stitching. In applyingthis chainstitch along one edge of the ribbon I so adjust the tension ofthe sewing-machine that the stitches will slightly draw the material,thus very gradually contracting that edge without any perceptible puckeror gather in the same. stitch I further increase the elasticity of theseam, silk being in itself more elastic than linen or cotton threads.

Before applying the above-described binding to hats I preferably shrinksame by steaming or in any other Well-known manner, though this is notessential to the successful application of my invention.

In applying my improved binding-ribbon to hats I first stitch the plainor untreated the upper side of the brim with a machine in the usualmanner and then turn over the ribbon against the under side of the brimand stitch it by hand along the parts between the points 1 2, 3 4, asshown in Fig. 2; but along the portions 1 3 and 2 4 I leave unstitched,and same are not secured to the brim in any manner, as the tension ofthe elastic chain stitching is sufficient to cause the binding to hugthe under side of the hatbrim closely and firmly,

By using silk to form the chainas shown in v Fig. 5. I have found thatthe line of stitching along the edge of the binding not only gives it abetter finish or appearance, but also serves to improve the wearingqualities of the ribbon, and where the ribbon is sewed the chain--stitching serves to hide the handstitches.Asthehand-stitchingintersectsthe chain-stitches along the side of thehat-brim, a stronger and more at such points.

It will be apparent that in some instances it may be desirable tochain-stitch both edges of the ribbon in order to efiect a close fitabout the hat-brim, or, on the other hand, I may prefer to chain-stitchonly a portion of one edge instead of the whole band, such modificationsbeing clearly Within the scope of my present invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a binding for hats composed of astrip of suitable durable seam is formed material having a line ofstitching along one edge, the stitches being under tension, where by thestitched edge will be shorter than the of chain pattern under tension,whereby the stitched edge will be shorter than the unstitched edge.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a binding for hats, stitched alongone edge with a silk thread under tension.

4. A binding for hats, composed of a strip of suitable fabric having oneedge slightly puckered by'a silk thread stitched under tension alongsaid edge. 7

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER E. CLARK.

Witnesses:

F; BENJAMIN, CLYDE BASS.

